A Canine Crisis? Really?
So, were celebrating now? Applause all around for our brave heroes who rescued a dog from a canal in Tempe? Seriously? Let’s just pause for a moment and consider the sheer absurdity of this entire spectacle. We have police officers – paid with our tax dollars, mind you – and firefighters – also funded by us – deploying resources to retrieve a fluffy creature that apparently lacked the basic navigational skills to escape a shallow waterway.
I’m not saying dogs dont need help sometimes. But is this what we’ve come to? A full-blown rescue operation for a canine misadventure? I bet the canal wasn’t even raging rapids; probably just a slow, meandering trickle of water. Did anyone consider that maybe, just maybe, the dog could have paddled its way to safety with a little effort?
Its heartwarming, they say. A display of community spirit, they proclaim! I see it as another example of our society’s increasing tendency towards over-intervention and an utter lack of personal responsibility. Instead of learning to swim, or even just assessing the situation before leaping into a canal, this dog now has a heroic rescue narrative attached to its name. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
Perhaps next time, lets encourage dogs – and people – to be a little more resourceful, rather than immediately launching a multi-agency response to every minor predicament.
